From his subtle and overt moves to collapse Nigeria’s political structure into one-party system, as well as having other democratic institutions at his beck and call, President Bola Tinubu is on a mission to state capture which will confer the status of an emperor on him
By Lukmon Ojerinde
Centuries ago, the legendary William Shakespeare, the English playwright quoted a Roman noble’s description of an emperor in his book, Julius Caesar. Shakespeare quoted Cassius’ reference to Emperor Caesar’s behavioral pattern to wit, “He doth bestride the narrow world like a Colossus, and we petty men walk under his huge legs and peep about to find ourselves dishonourable graves”. According to a Nigerian clergy, Pastor Tunde Bakare, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is transmuting to a Colossus of sorts as a Nigerian civilian president, and wants all the democratic institutions to kowtow to him as the maximum ruler.
In comparison with Caesar who was a near-weakling before he made himself a ruthless emperor, President Tinubu had serious social weaknesses that would make it impossible for him to be electable, at least in sane societies. Before his election in 2023, Tinubu was enmeshed in alleged certificate forgery, inconsistent identities, controversy over academic qualifications, health issues, as well as drug trafficking scandal among others.
Besides, former President Mohammadu Buhari government which bequeathed power to Tinubu was a huge setback for him to convince Nigerians to cast their votes for him since he is a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Yet, by any means, Tinubu was able to scale these hurdles amid contestations to ascend to the Aso Rock Presidential Villa as the president.
Painting the picture of how feeble men who found themselves in power, instead of ruling with modesty and empathy for their subjects, would rather transmute to ruthless rulers, Shakespeare quoted Cassius thus, “Ye gods, it doth amaze me, a man of such a feeble temper should so get the start of the majestic world, and bear the palm alone.
Many analysts and opinion leaders have, in recent times argued that President Tinubu’s presidency tilts towards winner takes it all. They have also accused him of being on a mission to state capture as virtually all the democratic institutions are allegedly under his tight grip. The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), for example, has alleged that Tinubu’s discriminatory appointments are responsible for the hostilities that are ravaging the country in the recent times.
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) also accused the president of violating the Constitution, especially with the suspension of elected democratic institutions in Rivers State, replacing same with a Sole Administrator. Many have alleged that Tinubu had captured the legislature and the judiciary which manifested in the prompt approval of the State of Emergency imposed on Rivers State, by the National Assembly.
It was further alleged that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Nigeria Police Force, political parties and other democratic institutions are under the control of Tinubu.
The latest move by Tinubu to bring Nigeria under his firm grip is the mass defection of members of the opposition parties, including the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP) to the ruling APC. Last month, the governor of Delta State, Sheriff Oborevwori, his immediate predecessor Ifeanyi Okowa and all the elected officials in the state, including members of the National Assembly, all defected to the APC in one fell swoop. Other PDP governors are said to be nursing the idea of moving to the ruling party.
Tinubu has been accused of using threats of unleashing the EFCC on the PDP governors to coerce them to join the APC. It was gathered reliably that even the suspended governor Siminalayi Fubara has been given the condition to join the ruling party as soon as he is reinstated. These moves, political pundits argued, are intended to strangulate opposition parties and grant Tinubu a smooth sail to achieve his reelection in 2027.
Reacting to the alleged state capture and one-party state, Barrister Kenneth Okonkwo, a Labour Party chieftain, alleged that Tinubu was using inducement to lure opposition parties’ members to the APC. He cast the blame on the defectors whom he accused of falling for the alleged trick.
“Nigeria is not a nation of law and justice, but a nation of one individual. Oborevwori feared the federal might maybe used against him in 2027, so he defected.
“People go to APC because they will find the self-preservation of writing election results.
“Don’t blame the APC for using inducement to woo people who are seeking self-preservation. Blame the opposition who fell for Tinubu’s trick because of self-preservation”, Okonkwo alleged.
Pastor Bakare in a media conference held at his church, the Citadel Global Community Church (CGCC) on Sunday, April 20, 2025 also said, “Mr President, thanks for your political machinations, Nigeria is now bedeviled by a captured National Assembly, the most ineffective in its checks-and-balances role since the start of the Fourth Republic.
“This National Assembly, the Tenth, has by its unconstitutional endorsement of the president’s abuse of powers proved to be the most spineless in our recent history. Through its actions and inactions, the National Assembly has in effect become the 48th member of the president’s cabinet, while a cabinet minister has, more or less, become a third term state governor in Rivers State, pampered by the indulgences of the president.
“Recent events have made it clear to Nigerians that had this Assembly been in place in 2006 when the third term agenda was proposed, our democracy would have since morphed into one of Africa’s lamentable tales of sit-tight dictatorship”.
Again, on Sunday, April 27, 2025, some prominent Civil Society activists including Richard Akinnola, Abdul Mahmud, Dr Sam Amadi, Auwa Ibrahim Musa, Mma Odi, Uche Onyeagocha, Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, Prof. Adele Jinadu, Senator Babafemi Ojodu among others, vowed to resist moves by Tinubu to turn Nigeria to a one-party state.
In a statement they jointly signed entitled “Defending Democracy: A Call to Resist a One-Party State in Nigeria”, the group said, “Fellow Nigerians, friends of democracy, we the undersigned democrats raise our voices in alarm and solidarity at this critical hour in the life of our nation. Nigeria’s democracy, hard-won through decades of struggle, sacrifice and steadfast resistance against authoritarian rule, is under grave threat.
“We are witnessing with increasing dismay a calculated and systematic effort by the administration of President Bola Tinubu to dismantle the democratic foundations of our republic and reduce Nigeria to a one-party state.
“Under this administration, political pluralism is being eroded not by persuasion or performance, but by bribery, blackmail, and coercion. Serving and former governors, Senators, members of the House of Representatives and key opposition figures are decamping en mass to the ruling party not out of conviction, but out of fear and pressure. The pattern is disturbingly clear: an invitation by the EFCC for questioning on financial impropriety is swiftly followed by political capitulation. This weaponization of state institutions for partisan gain corrodes public trust and undermines the integrity of our democracy.
“We must say it clearly: a democracy without opposition is not a democracy. The presence of multiple, vibrant parties is not a luxury, it is the lifeblood of democratic system. It provides citizens with real choices, ensures accountability, encourages debate and fosters innovation in governmence.
“The drift towards a one-party state is a betrayal of the ideals that many of us, and indeed President Tinubu himself, fought for during the darkest days of military dictatorship. It is not what we envisioned when we stood in the streets demanding civil rule. It is not what the Constitution guarantees. And it is not what Nigeria’s future demands.
“The implications of this creeping authoritarianism are dire: we risk returning to a culture of impunity where the absence of opposition breeds arrogance and unaccountable governance”.
But President Tinubu has reacted to the allegation that his government is bent on making Nigeria a one-party state, insisting that changing party affiliation was not a new thing or peculiar to Nigeria. He also dismissed the allegation of authoritarianism as baseless and exaggerated.
In a statement on Sunday, April 27, 2025 by the presidency spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga with the title, “Democracy Strong and Alive in Nigeria, Ignore Alarmists”, read, “We have read the alarming claims of disgruntled opposition figures, some partisan human rights crusaders and emergency defenders of democracy over recent defections of key members of opposition parties into the governing All Progressives Congress.
“We must add that no policy, official action or directive from the presidency seeks to dismantle democracy or weaken opposition or create one-party state.
“Accusation of bribery, blackmail and weaponization of state institutions only exist in the idle minds of politicians and their agents who have failed in their assigned role of opposition and are fishing for scapegoats.
“The opposition cannot blame President Tinubu and the governing APC for their poor organization, indiscipline and gross incompetence in managing their affairs. It is certainly not part of President Tinubu’s job to organize or strengthen opposition parties”.
